Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

What is immune thrombocytopenic purpura?

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a blood disorder. With this disease, you
have a lower amount of platelets than normal in your blood. Platelets are blood cell
fragments that help with blood clotting. Having fewer platelets can cause easy bruising,
bleeding gums, and internal bleeding. ITP is caused by an immune reaction against
your own platelets. This means that your body’s immune system attacks your platelets
by mistake.

ITP is a fairly common blood disorder that both children and adults can develop.

There are 2 forms of ITP:

Acute thrombocytopenic purpura. This often affects young children, ages 2 to 6 years old. Symptoms may appear after
a virus, such as chickenpox. Acute ITP usually starts suddenly. Symptoms usually go
away in less than 6 months, often within a few weeks. Treatment is often not needed.
The disorder usually does not come back. Acute ITP is the most common form of the
disorder.

Chronic thrombocytopenic purpura. This disorder can happen at any age. Symptoms can last from 6 months to several years.
Or they may last for your whole life. Adults have this type more often than children
do, but it does affect teens. Women have it more often than men. Chronic ITP can go
away and come back often. You must have ongoing follow-up care with a blood specialist
(hematologist).

What causes immune thrombocytopenic purpura?

With ITP, your immune system attacks your body's own platelets by mistake. Most often
this is a result of antibody production against platelets. In a small number of cases,
a type of white blood cell called T-cells will directly attack platelets. This immune
system mistake may happen due to any of the following:

Medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) can cause an allergy that cross-reacts
with platelets.

Infections can set off the immune reaction that leads to ITP. These are often viral
infections, including the viruses that cause chicken pox, hepatitis C, and AIDS.

What are the symptoms of immune thrombocytopenic purpura?

A normal platelet count is about 150,000 to 450,000. With ITP, the platelet count
is less than 100,000. By the time major bleeding occurs, you may have a platelet count
of less than 10,000. The lower your platelet count, the greater your risk of bleeding.

Because platelets help stop bleeding, ITP symptoms are linked to increased bleeding.
But each person’s symptoms may vary. Symptoms may include:

Bruising or purple areas on the skin. These bruises (called purpura) are caused by
bleeding under the skin. When you have ITP, bruises may occur for no known reason.
They can appear at elbow and knee joints just from movement.

Tiny red dots under the skin that are due to very small bleeds.

Nosebleeds

Bleeding in your mouth, or in and around your gums

Heavy menstrual periods

Blood in your vomit, urine, or stool

Bleeding in your head. Note: This is the most dangerous symptom of ITP. A head injury that occurs when you don’t
have enough platelets to stop the bleeding can be deadly.

ITP symptoms may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider
for a diagnosis.

How is immune thrombocytopenic purpura diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will take your medical history and give you a physical exam.
Your provider may ask about any medicines you are taking that may cause bleeding or
lower your platelet count. You may also have these tests:

Complete blood count (CBC). This checks the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in your
blood. With ITP, the red and white blood cell counts will be normal, but the platelet
count will be low.

Peripheral blood smear. This is a follow-up test to an abnormal CBC. It checks different types of blood cells,
in particular platelets for ITP.

Other blood and urine tests. These tests are done to measure bleeding time and find possible infections.

How is immune thrombocytopenic purpura treated?

Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment plan for you based on:

How old you are

Your overall health, and medical history

How sick you are

The cause of the disease

How well you handle certain medicines, treatments, or therapies

If your condition is expected to get worse

Your opinion or preference

When treatment is necessary, the 2 most common forms of immediate treatment are steroids
and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG):

Steroids. These medicines help prevent bleeding by slowing down platelet destruction. They
can lead to a higher platelet count in 2 to 3 weeks. Side effects may include feeling
grouchy, stomach irritation, weight gain, high blood pressure, and acne.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is made of antibodies removed from blood donations
from thousands of healthy donors. IVIG helps by increasing your platelet count. You
may see a response in as little as 24 to 48 hours.

Other treatments for ITP may include:

Rh immune globulin. This medicine briefly stops the spleen from destroying platelets. You must be Rh
positive and have a spleen for this medicine to work.

Medicine changes. If your provider thinks a certain medicine is the cause, you may need to stop or
change that medicine.

Treating infection. If an infection is causing ITP, then treating the infection may help increase your
platelet count.

Surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy). The spleen makes antibodies that help fight infections. When you have ITP, these
antibodies destroy platelets by mistake. This surgery is done more often in people
with chronic ITP to slow down platelet destruction.

Platelet transfusion. This may be needed if you have severe bleeding or are about to have surgery.

Rituximab. This medicine is an antibody made in a lab. It slows the antiplatelet antibody production.

Romiplostim and eltrombopag. These medicines stimulate the bone marrow to make more platelets.

Lifestyle changes. These can include making sure that you use protective gear and avoiding certain activities.

Key points about immune thrombocytopenic purpura

ITP is a blood disorder. With this disease, you have a lower amount of platelets than
normal in your blood.

A decrease in platelets can result in easy bruising, bleeding gums, and internal bleeding.

ITP may happen suddenly and go away in about 6 months. Or it may be chronic and last
for years.

Treatment options include medicines that can reduce platelet destruction, or help
the body make more platelets.

In some cases, surgery to remove the spleen is needed.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.

Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.

Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells
you.

At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments,
or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.

Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also
know what the side effects are.

Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.

Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.

Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.

If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that
visit.